Extemists’ Views Contribute to Dialogue

To the editors:

In the past week, I have witnessed many supporters of the state of Israel come out in opposition to Tom Paulin, the poet whose invitation to speak at Harvard was recently rescinded because of comments he has made in the past equating Zionists with Nazis, or saying that some Israeli settlers should be shot for their illegal occupation of Palestinian territories ( News, “Controversial Poet Will Not Give Lecture,” Nov. 13). They have berated him for his comments, saying that his invitation should be rescinded because his statements promoted violence and were potentially racist.

Where were these people when Ann Coulter, a radical conservative, spoke not once but twice, on the Harvard campus? Coulter has been quoted as saying that we should deal with Muslim extremists by “invading their countries, killing their leaders, and converting them to Christianity.” She has said that “not all Muslims may be terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims.” Referring to the leading prophet of Islam, she states, “To say that Muhammad was a demon-possessed pedophile is not an attack. It’s a fact.”

Do I think that her invitation should have been rescinded also? No. I do think that she, Tom Paulin and others with questionable views should be allowed to come speak at our campus in deference to the first amendment, and that those who oppose their opinions should come out and voice their concerns. In a time when McCarthyism, especially against Arabs and Muslims, is spreading, it is vital that this campus, above all others, should support academic freedom of speech.

Rita Hamad ’03

Nov. 20, 2002

The writer is former president of the Society of Arab Students and current co-chair of the Palestine Solidarity Committee.